# Insurance for hunting lease holders, hunters and shoots in Germany

> Anyone who hunts is responsible for every shot, their dog and their high seat, and anyone who leases a hunting ground (Revier) is often responsible for crop damage caused by game as well. Without hunting liability insurance there is no hunting licence in Germany. This page explains what the law requires, which further cover matters for lease holders, hunters and shoots, and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-hunting-lease-holder.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Is the statutory minimum for hunting liability enough?

It is enough for the licence, but rarely for a serious injury. A ricochet that hits a walker, or a car crash after a driven hunt, can lead to lifelong pension claims. Combined limits of several million euros are common and cost only a little more. As a lease holder you should also include the hunting ground, fixtures and driven hunts.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Hunting liability (Jagdhaftpflicht) of at least 500,000 euros for injury and 50,000 euros for property damage, otherwise the hunting licence is refused under section 17 of the Federal Hunting Act (BJagdG)
- **Game damage:** If the lease holder has taken on liability for game damage in the lease, he pays under section 29 BJagdG for damage by hoofed game, wild rabbits and pheasants
- **Statutory accident insurer:** Under section 123 of Social Code VII, hunts fall under the agricultural statutory accident insurer
- **Basic cover from:** about 60 euros a year for a hunter's liability policy, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** The lease holder's liability for high seats, feeding sites and hunting fixtures, and for beaters and guests at driven hunts

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **A shot hits a bystander:** A ricochet or a miss in poor light: a person is hurt, a car or grazing animal is hit.
- **High seat collapses:** A rotten rung, a walker climbs up and falls. The lease holder has to show that the fixtures were checked.
- **Road accident after the hunt:** During a driven hunt a group of wild boar runs across the road and a car hits them.
- **Hunting dog causes damage:** The dog chases sheep, bites another dog or runs in front of a car.
- **Game damage on farmland:** Wild boar churn up a maize field. If the lease holder has taken on liability, the farmer's bill lands with him.
- **Guns and equipment:** A break in at the hunting lodge, and optics and rifles worth several thousand euros are gone.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 3, Theft 3, Cyber 1, Downtime 2, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Hunting liability is required for the licence. For lease holders and shoots the hunting ground, fixtures, driven hunts and guests belong in the policy. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Dog and horse liability** (Strongly advised): For hunting dogs outside the hunt, on walks or in training, if the hunting policy does not include them there. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-pet-liability.php
- **Accident insurance** (Strongly advised): For falls from a high seat, gunshot injuries and accidents in the field, on top of statutory accident insurance. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php
- **Car insurance** (Strongly advised): For the off road vehicle in the hunting ground, with comprehensive cover for damage on forest tracks and from game. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Commercial buildings** (Depends on the business): For hunting lodge, game larder and cold room against fire, storm and water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-commercial-buildings.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): For equipment, cooling and supplies in the lodge and larder against fire, storm and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Legal expenses insurance** (Depends on the business): For disputes over game damage, lease contracts or with the firearms authority. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

Hunting liability for an individual hunter is cheap. It costs more for lease holders with a large ground, several dogs, a lodge and regular driven hunts.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Hunter without a lease, 5 million euros combined, one hunting dog | about 60 to 140 euros a year |
| Business liability | Lease holder with fixtures and two driven hunts a year | about 150 to 400 euros a year |
| Accident insurance | Hunter with a 100,000 euro disability sum | about 100 to 250 euros a year |
| Commercial buildings | Hunting lodge with game larder, rebuild value 60,000 euros | about 150 to 400 euros a year |
| Car insurance | Off road vehicle with partial comprehensive, good no claims class, rural | about 400 to 900 euros a year |

For comparison: Good hunting liability costs less a year than a box of quality rifle cartridges.

_All prices are guide figures from our own quoting work in 2026, excluding German insurance premium tax. Your premium depends on the size of the ground, the number of dogs and hunts, and claims history._

- [Federal Hunting Act, section 17: hunting liability for the licence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bjagdg/__17.html)
- [Federal Hunting Act, section 29: liability for game damage](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bjagdg/__29.html)
- [Social Code VII, section 123: agricultural accident insurer](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__123.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Hunter** (hunter without their own ground, with a shooting permit or guest invitations): Business liability, Accident insurance. Together: about 160 to 390 euros a year
- **Lease holder** (holder of a hunting lease with high seats and a dog): Business liability, Dog and horse liability, Accident insurance, Legal expenses insurance. Together: about 450 to 1,000 euros a year
- **Shoot** (larger ground with lodge, larder, vehicle and driven hunts): Business liability, Commercial buildings, Business contents, Car insurance, Accident insurance. Together: about 1,100 to 2,500 euros a year

## The worst hunting day

Six things hunting lease holders really go through, all on one driven hunt Saturday. Tap through and see who pays.

- 06:40: On a forest track the off road vehicle grounds on a rock and the oil sump is damaged. (€1,800, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 09:15: A guest climbs a high seat, a rung breaks and he twists his knee badly. (€6,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 10:30: A ricochet hits a mushroom picker's car parked at the edge of the forest. (€3,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:50: A beater falls in the undergrowth and breaks his ankle. (€8,000, Paid by: Accident insurance)
- 14:20: The hunting dog follows a boar into a paddock and injures a foal. (€4,500, Paid by: Dog and horse liability)
- 19:00: The farmer reports churned up maize and says your estimate is far too low. (€2,500, Paid by: Legal expenses insurance)

**Damage so far:** €26,300

## Practical tips from your broker

- Choose a combined limit of several million euros instead of the statutory minimum.
- As a lease holder, make sure the hunting ground, high seats, feeding sites and driven hunts are named in the policy.
- Check how many hunting dogs are covered and whether they are protected outside the hunt.
- Read your lease to see whether you took on liability for game damage; under section 29 BJagdG that decides your risk.
- Inspect high seats regularly and record the checks in writing.
- Store firearms as required by law; theft from unsuitable storage can cause problems with the authority and the insurer.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We read the small print:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several hunting liability policies and shows you how dogs, guests, fixtures and hunting abroad are treated.
- **Hunting and private in one place:** Hunting liability, lodge, vehicle and your private cover sit together with us, in English or German.
- **Family run since 1989:** Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Is hunting liability compulsory in Germany?

Yes. Without proof of hunting liability of at least 500,000 euros for injury and 50,000 euros for property damage, the hunting licence is refused under section 17 BJagdG.

### What does hunting liability cost?

As a guide from our quoting work, about 60 to 140 euros a year for a hunter with a dog. Lease holders with a ground and driven hunts pay about 150 to 400 euros.

### Do I have to pay for game damage as a lease holder?

Under section 29 BJagdG, in a communal hunting district the hunting cooperative pays first. If the lease holder has taken on this liability in the lease, it falls on him.

### Are my beaters and guests insured?

Under section 123 of Social Code VII hunts fall under the agricultural statutory accident insurer. Whether beaters and guests are covered there depends on the case. Your liability as organiser of a driven hunt should be covered by your hunting liability policy.

### Is my hunting dog covered by hunting liability?

Some policies include a set number of hunting dogs, partly also outside the hunt. This varies between insurers and is part of the comparison.

### Does German hunting liability apply abroad?

Each policy sets its own rules, often with limits on duration or countries. If you hunt abroad, check beforehand whether the host country requires its own proof.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-hunting-lease-holder.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.